Indian Ocean Nations Prepare to Mark 20th Anniversary of 2004 Tsunami

The disaster, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake, claimed over 220,000 lives and reshaped global disaster preparedness.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, caused by the longest faultline rupture ever recorded, killed 226,408 people across 14 countries.
Indonesia suffered the heaviest toll, with over 165,000 deaths, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, with tens of thousands of casualties each.
The disaster displaced 1.5 million people and prompted $14 billion in international aid for reconstruction and recovery efforts.
The lack of a tsunami warning system in 2004 exacerbated the tragedy, but improved global monitoring now reduces warning times to minutes.
Commemorative events, including memorials and interfaith ceremonies, are planned in heavily affected nations such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.